Royal Assassin

Chapter 19

The steady breeze set the dead leaves flying and dancing in mid-air, blowing and making the long cloak worn by the grave visitor flapped. The visitor stood almost like a statue it if wasn’t for the wind swaying the clothes donned by the visitor.

Some years have passed and the visitor never failed to greet the residents of the graves. But there was always one particular grave that held the visitor’s stay for too long.

Cassandra crouched to the side of a particular unfancy grave, almost isolated from the other graves and seemed unattended as well as the others. She pulled some weeds as a habit.

She let out a small sigh.

If only Wilson knew how loved he was by his son, who stood by his side loyally and obediently. Killing Wilson was partly her fault, therefore she didn’t mind if it hurt him, as long as she could protect her own. If only Ethan forgave her and realized her concern for him. Sitting there had always made her nostalgic, as though somehow she could still replay those times when they were children.

But now, she only felt pity and a small longing. She would always feel guilty but she was able to move on. Thankfully, those years went by in peace.

She stood up and turned away from the grave. As she reached the back gate, she took another glance and almost whispered to herself, “Later…Ethan”. And she was already moving forward, her thought filled with the anticipation of a certain black and white pearled youngsters filling the kingdom with happiness and laughter.

****

It took some courage and convincing, and persuasion and perseverance over the years to get them to where they were now.

Jaden who used to have doubt of conceiving a child due to the fact that her body was filled with poisons flowing through her veins was able to give lives to two infants.

The birth of the two children, the twins, were so important to the two royal families, as though signifying reborn and renew. It also marked a sense of freedom and relief from the past’s pain. With these children in their hearts and minds, the families and the people had the strength to move forward to the future. That was what Justin and Jaden believed.

However, there were a few things that lingered in Jaden’s mind as she observed the children playing around in the garden, climbing the trees and running around their father’s legs.

She looked at the little boy with jet black hair and the little girl with hair shimmering and pure as snow. There was no doubt about it. Though, their faces resembled their parents, the son taking the mother’s and the daughter’s taking the father’s, their hair colours were proofs that some remnants of the poisons were still intact into their system. But she wasn’t really worried about that. Those things would slowly vanish with time.

And for the time being, she had a little itching to consider if she should expose her children on learning the tricks and skills of a spy. Even though, she long retired from being an assassin, she still had a knack for detective skills and her abilities and strengths were still reliable despites the poisons wearing off from her system due to pregnancy and Cassandra’s medicine.

After all, shouldn’t her children shake off the poison excess within them by doing those kind of exercises? Well, she already taught the twins how to sneak in and out the palace without notice, a few weeks ago. And the children caught on fast as they used every chance to skip music and language lessons, which caused severe headache to the King.

Somehow, it was amusing torturing Justin that way. It was an added benefit.

“What are you thinking?” a voice she’d known so well, it was already embedded in her mind.

“Thinking about the children’s future”, Jaden answered.

“Hmm…it’s still rather early for that”, said Justin. “But I’m sure we have the strength to shape our children into good people, into great rulers”, he said as he grabbed Jaden’s hand. “As long as we have each other and our families and the people who love us, we will be alright. We will make it through. We’ve been through wars and fights, I’m sure we can handle this, as long as you’re with me, Jaden”.

Jaden squeezed her husband’s hand more securely and smiled, “I agree with you, wholeheartedly”.

The couple stood up and greeted the visitors who were Justin’s siblings and also Jaden’s red and blue heads of siblings who happened to know where the garden was situated.

The families ended up indulging in the evening break, basking in the moment of leisure and pleasure. At the moment, they were really grateful for the peace they’ve attained.

Jaden couldn’t help but thought of the words Justin once said to her, when she unconsciously let down her wall.

War doesn’t last forever.

Indeed, and she couldn’t help but felt amuse of how right and sure her husband was. Though, the war between their kingdoms had long ended, the everyday life battles always awaited them. But they had grown better and stronger. They still held some doubts and fears but they didn’t grow weaker. Every step they took forward felt even lighter as they marched onward. Vengeance and repentance? She didn’t need to answer anymore, when she had conquered both of them.